<![CDATA[This study examines the role of Gen Z's digital literacy in supporting the preservation of local cultural identity through social media in Palembang. The purpose of this research is to examine the extent of Gen Z's digital literacy in accessing, evaluating, and managing local cultural content, as well as to describe their role in supporting cultural preservation through social media. The method used is a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative), using data collection techniques that include questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using statistical methods, while qualitative data analysis involved data reduction, data presentation, and data verification or conclusion drawing. The analysis is based on the Empowering Eight framework by Wijetunge & Alahakoon and Role by Biddle and Thomas. The results indicated that Gen Z's level of digital literacy is relatively high, especially in selecting, creating, and evaluating local cultural content. Furthermore, interview findings reveal that Gen Z is not only active in producing creative and norm-compliant cultural content but is also capable of responding to feedback and criticism in a mature manner. In conclusion, digital literacy plays a crucial role in empowering Gen Z as agents of local cultural preservation in the digital era. Theoretically, this study supports Role Theory and extends it to the digital context, demonstrating that digital literacy facilitates Generation Z’s enactment of its social role in promoting local cultural identity through social media. ]]>
